How To Be A Scientist (College & Careers)

Experiments are used to gather data. That data is used as evidence to support an idea. The more evidence that supports an idea, the stronger that idea is.

Sometimes, but most scientists work in a team. Scientific discoveries often involved the work of many people. Scientists frequently share data with others, especially with their labmates who work next to them.

Discovering something can be very exciting and it could potentially help millions of people. People also become scientists because they love to solve problems, they are naturally curious, and they want to understand how the world works.

Anyone can be a scientist! About 50 years ago, most scientists were men, but today that has changed dramatically. Today you can find men and women of all backgrounds achieving great things in science, even winning Nobel prizes!

No, scientists must be able to communicate verbally and in writing to share their work with others, so they will need to be well rounded in things like English and Math. In college, about half the classes you take will be general subjects and the other half in your specialization of choice.

It takes 4 years to get a college degree. To lead a research team, you will need a doctorate degree like a PhD, which can take another 4-6 years. Most of that time is spent in a lab doing research, not in a classroom.

Biochemistry is the study of the chemical process that makes living things work. Inside all of us are cells. In those cells, millions of chemical reactions are happening that make us work.

No, you can actually be a scientist without a college degree at all. However, most people that work in science research have some sort of advanced certification beyond high school. Those who lead research programs usually have a doctorate degree (PhD).

Yes, all scientists use the practices of science to generate data, which they use to support their ideas. All of them also collect evidence to support their ideas. The more evidence that supports an idea, the stronger it is.

Marine biology is the study of living things in the ocean, their interactions with the environment, and their behaviors.

Plasma is the fourth state of matter. It forms when you heat a gas causing the atoms to be ripped apart. The sun is a giant ball of plasma, lightning is a plasma and so is a flame.

Scientists explore the natural world to understand how it works. Engineers use their knowledge of science to solve problems.